We Can Do it!

This is a great photoshoot I found off of a site called Strawberry Mohawk. I simply LOVE it! Please visit her site!

Rosie the Riveter photo shoot. For the breastfeeding moms out there struggling with our nursing rights and image!

Travel Tips For Babies

Traveling with kids is hard. It's even more hard when you are traveling with a baby.

I used to get so stressed out when I went places. Now I just think, I can always go shopping when I get to my destination. That thought process really helped me.

Travel tips:

Somethings you just can't buy in the store. Like a child's favorite blanket, forgetting a mom's breast pump would be a pricy thing to pick up at the store. I've gotten in the habit of replaying my day and packing to go with that.

I make a list of everything I might forget about.

If you are driving plan on stopping often. Your baby may sleep the entire time. Other times your child could be very needy/cry the entire time. If you prepare to stop often, you won't get disappointed if you end up having to. Remember babies love to be held. Don't drive around and hold them. They need to be in a car seat. This is why you may need to stop often.

If you are pumping and your pump has the ability to be battery operated, bring many batteries. Have a mini cooler to store breast milk. Check with your hotel ahead of time to make sure they have a refrigerator in the room. 

Have extra clothes and diapers handy.

Here are some helpful travel items for baby:

Baby MEDBASICS

The first thing that I think is a travel must is Baby MEDBASICS. It's a helpful travel pack that is portable and is filled with infant emergencies. Not everyone know what to do if a baby chokes, has a seizure, spikes a fever. It's best to call 911. Sometimes you don't have time for that and have to act fast.

 

Color-coded tabs helps identify different topics.

Included topics are: Choking, CPR, Fever, Bleeding, Burns and Poison.

It's spiral bound and pages are coated.

Easy to follow and detailed illustrations.

A page for your emergency contact information. Your child's allergies could be included in this section.

Dimensions: 5" x 6 1/4".

Comes in 3 different colors. 

It is $25.

I could have used this a few times when my kids were little. 

1. My youngest son Isaak spiked a fever with meningitis. Thankfully the on call nurse was very helpful and quick. Not all doctors have on call nurses. 
2. It would have been helpful to store all the boy's doctors and their phone numbers in. 
3. My oldest son Mica was allergic to penicillin. He was on home IV antibiotics to get rid of a staph infection. All the sudden my 7 month old was covered in hives. I was on the phone to home health right away. They contacted Mica's doctor and told me what to do. It's information like this that can and should stay with a parent all the time. That's where this book would have been handy.

MyLittleSeat Compact Fabric Travel High Chair 

This product called MyLittleSeat Compact Fabric Travel High Chair is for a little older baby.

 

I think it's so cute! It stays compact. It's a high chair that folds down to the size of a diaper! It has it's own matching bag.

Dimensions: 5" x 6 1/4".

Comes in 3 different colors.

For babies who can sit up with no help (6 months to 30 months).

Fits many chairs. 

Made to go to visit places that do not have children.

Comes in 6 different patterns.

Attaches to a diaper bag, suitcase or stroller with a clip. 

It is $29.99.

SOFT

There is a genetic condition that my nephew Emerson has. It's called Trisomy 18. Only 10% go on to make it past their first birthday.

Guess who turned one on the 23rd? My nephew Emerson.

He'll always have problems. He'll always be loved.

I got him a Super Emerson romper.

Some of the things little Emerson has gone through:

• Apnea spells when he was tiny. He would just stop breathing.
• He had an O2 tank for most of his life.
• He had an NG tube for feeding. My sister pumped and has given him her milk this whole time.
• He had jaw surgery. Most babies born with Trisomy 18, also known as Edward Syndrome have too small of the lower jaw. He had to go on a ventilator for this. That was a scariest part! Coming of the vent was super scary! They over extended his jaw. The hardware stayed in for a few months. Taking the hardware out took awhile. Having jaw surgery allowed him to eat and breath much better!
• He had his diaphragmatic hernia fixed.
• He had his adenoids taken out.
• He had tubes put in his ears.
• He was born with a club foot. That has been bent, cast, bent, cast over and over again. Then he wore a brace.
• He now has a G-Button, which sits in his stomach. He gets feed through that. It's more permanent than his G-Tube that he kept pulling out. He does eat, but still gets feed through the G-Button as well.
• He now has to wear a patch on one eye for 3 hours a day. This will help his lazy eye. 

Emerson continues to go to physical therapy. He's learning how to walk on a baby treadmill. His neck has and is weak. That's something they continue to work on in physical therapy.

Happy Birthday Little Emerson!

If you would like to help support the families and kids that have Trisomy 18, you can donate to Soft Organization!

From Their Website:

Support Organization for Trisomy 18, 13, and Related Disorders (SOFT) is a non-profit volunteer organization offering support for parents who have had or are expecting a child with a chromosome disorder (especially Trisomy 18 and Trisomy 13), and education to families and professionals interested in the care of these children.

Brinware - Glass Dishes For Kids

Since my kids are past the age of throwing food, I'm always on the lookout for glass, ceramic and sterling silver dishes. I just don't like the idea of my kids being exposed to eating and drinking surfaces that are not BPA free. I know they make some plastics BFA free, but all the cute plates I once bought at Target are not BPA free.

I just found out there's a company called Brinware that sells the cutest glass dishes!

Check out their cute plates!

I found this information on their website about their cute plates:

• Plate Size 7.5"
• Patent-pending food grade silicone sleeve for protection and slip resistance
• Tempered glass for extra durability and safety
• Microwavable and Dishwasher safe
• Interchangeable fun designs 

Check out placemats!

This is some information about their placemats:

• Placemat size 11"x15"
• They come in a set of two
• They roll up to make traveling easy
• They are Dishwasher safe

Go Graham Go! is giving away a Panda Play Green Plate Set! How great is that? Go to her site to enter!